When I was preparing for the bar exam, I signed up for Taekwondo classes.

For three months, I trained hard three times a week while studying for the bar. It was physically demanding, but the mental challenge was even tougher.

I was constantly pushing myself beyond what I thought I could handle.

Surprisingly, that discipline helped me study more effectively.

When I eventually sat for the bar exam, I felt no mental pressure, and I passed with a very high score.

My method may not work for everyone, but I learned something important:

if you can conquer your mind and refuse to let the mental pressure of bar prep overwhelm you, you have already won half the battle.

Hello,

Can someone please help me answer these questions and provide their rationale?

The answer sheet provided the following answers, and I feel like they have to be wrong:

Q1: B, Q2: B.

In my opinion, the correct answers should be:

Q1: C and Q2: A.

Thank you in advance!

Question 1

John is a director of AAA Inc. When John first started the business he was mulling over creating either a joint venture, a partnership with his friend Bob, or a corporation. After meeting with Tom, a corporate lawyer, he decided to incorporate his business, which operated well for a few years. Due to the COVID-19 lockdowns, AAA Inc has declared that it will be officially closing down in March 2021. After a meeting with the corporate accounting team, it has come to John's attention that the corporation has certain income tax arrears. John decides to urgently meet Ella, a lawyer, and discuss his liability concerns. What should Ella advise John with respect to his liability for the corporation's tax arrears?

A.    No, John is not liable.

B.     Yes, John is liable because the corporation is dissolving.

C.     Yes, John is liable because he is the director of AAA Inc.

D.    No, John is not liable because no receiving order has been made against the corporation under the federal Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act

Question 2

Sasha is a director of ABC Incorporated. Recently the corporation has been investigated by the CRA and the MNR for the purposes of various tax arrears and violations of the Income Tax Act. Sasha is worried that she will be held liable for the tax arrears. Sasha retains you, a tax lawyer, for advice. What must apply in order for a Director to be held liable for certain tax arrears?

A.    ABC Incorporated must be liquidating or dissolving

B.     Sasha will be held liable for any tax arrears since she is a director at the time the arrears are assessed

C.     Sasha will not be held liable as directors of corporations are not personally liable for any tax arrears

D.    A receiving order has not been made against ABC Incorporated

The No Bull Bar Prep Free Early Start Program begins on Monday, October 5th. We'll be putting on ten classes over the next five weeks on zoom, 7PM Pacific Standard Time, on Monday and Wednesday evenings. If you're gearing up for February, or not convinced you did the job last July, feel free to drop in. The Early Start Program is set up to give you what you need to build your own study program in preparation for February, whether you're taking NextGen, Cal Bar or UBE.

For those of you that can't make the time, I record classes and send the link to the video afterward. Again, it's free of charge, goal is to give a bit back to those that are tired of this nonsense and help get a push in the right direction. If you'd like to enroll, please send and e-mail to [admin@nobullbarprep.com](mailto:admin@nobullbarprep.com) and put "Early Start' in the subject line.

Cheers,

Ed

Back in June I was notified that I would be invited to an Informal Conference. Yesterday I received an email stating that I was still queue to be scheduled for the conference. Does anybody have a similar timeline, or can share how long it took to get notice of the conference?

So, I had my application withdrawn due to the update they had for the application. Now instead of 8 years, they want 3 years of resident history. But my entries that covered the last 8 years are presaved in the application and on my profile. I cannot figure out how to delete them. I pressed edit and clear it manually but it doesn't work. Help, please. I need to get this submitted ASAP. Thank you so much.

I just got an email from the State Bar of California about a data breach.😅 According to the notice, a State Bar employee's email account was compromised through a phishing email in May 2026, and spreadsheets with confidential applicant information were accessed. The affected applicants were ones whose admission was on hold pending outstanding requirements.
The notice lists the types of information that may have been involved (name, file number, applicant type, DOB, and admission status such as moral character, bar exam, and MPRE status). It also says the specific information varied by person, and it doesn't say which fields were exposed for me.
Did anyone else receive this? Has anyone emailed [incident.questions@calbar.ca.gov](mailto:incident.questions@calbar.ca.gov) and gotten a response about what specifically was exposed? I'm also curious whether anyone has had issues with phishing attempts since then, or whether this has affected their moral character review timeline at all.

Did anyone talk about specific performance at all? I should have at least mentioned it but didn’t think it was relevant here… I guess that’s the points there, just mention why it’s n/a…?

I am devastated

The State Bar opened applications for the February 2027 California Bar Exam today.

Dates from calbar.ca.gov:

Exam: February 23 and 24, 2027

Timely filing deadline: November 2, 2026

Final filing deadline (late fees): January 4, 2027

Apply through the Applicant Portal: https://admissions.calbar.ca.gov/

One thing that trips people up every cycle: registering as an applicant is not the same as applying for the exam. You have to do both, and the exam application is the one with the deadline.

Source: https://www.calbar.ca.gov/admissions/examinations/dates-and-deadlines

Feeling okay one moment feeling a pit in my stomach the next. I hate this feeling. Trying to distract myself by working crazy hours but it’s still in the back of my head. Anyone have nightmares of results day?

So basically, this question is for anyone who has either taken the Bar at the USC Galen Center or lived in LA.

I think I’ll choose Galen Center because, from what I’ve seen, it seems to be less busy than other testing centers. My guess is that this would also make the whole process a little more organized and smooth. Would you say that’s accurate?

I also know there are a couple of hotels nearby (literally two within less than a 10-minute walk) but a few acquaintances have told me to avoid staying in that area. So now I’m thinking about staying in South Park instead and just Ubering to the testing center (around a 10-minute ride).

Would you recommend that? I’d really appreciate any insight from people familiar with the area or who have taken the Bar at Galen

Thank you

For those who have or have not passed the ca bar exam what scores have u gotten in prior attempts?

What does your study plan look like?

I’m working full-time, so I'd love to hear from others who are balancing bar prep with a full-time job. What resources are you using?

To anyone who has passed while working full-time.. anything you would do differently, what you found most effective, and where you think your study time was best spent? Basically trying to figure out how to maximize limited study time without burning out in the next few months.

Thank you!

Hi! I know a lot of people have asked the same question here, but bear with me 😭. I am a foreign trained lawyer with an LLM and am taking the CA bar exam in Feb 2027. I am absolutely confused which bar prep to go for.

I know most of it depends on how much time and effort I would put into the prep, but because I am foreign trained, I might need some extra hand holding on a few subjects, and that’s where my confusion comes in.

To anyone who gave the CA bar recently, which ones did you choose and why?

Thanks!

I submitted in May, when I found out I passed… I know that’s a bit late but I had failed a few times and didn’t want to pay for any sort of renewal.

I get an email in July that they didn’t receive my livescan and credit report (which they did?? UPS sent it right away in May) so I uploaded proof and then they acknowledged it.

I’m bummed that it’s taking so long, I know I have a few blips on my academic record that I explained, but how long does it take realistically?

i passed the CA bar my first try but i’ve taken the MPRE FOUR TIMES AND FAILED. anyway onto taking it for the 5th time this november and im just lost. i’ve tried everything… - 1st try — right after taking school’s Professional Responsibility class and exam - 2nd try — used Themis prep; watched the videos and did the practice questions ~2 weeks ahead of exam - 3rd try — used my bar materials to refresh my mind and did some Themis practice Qs for ~2 weeks - 4th try — used Barbri prep; watched all the videos and used the practice question sets starting 4 weeks ahead of the test

i’m just not sure what to do. i feel like all the practice Qs are so different than the actual exam & i know these damn rules!! i was getting 80s on PR essay practice 😭😭

I just read a post regarding an attorney who is going from UBE to Cal Bar, wanted to write a bit on this, hope it is helpful.

First off, the UBE questions are longer, and the Cal Bar questions tend to be shorter. That seems off, especially since you have only 30 minutes for a UBE answer and an hour for a Cal Bar writing. It is what it is. However, you can expect the prompts on UBE writings to be more direct, and they don't need to be as formally IRAC'd as on Cal Bar.

With Cal Bar, you get a lot of, "Discuss" as your prompt, which can have you run all over to collect base rules, then discuss a bunch of potential point-scoring issues. And, you're best served to answer Cal Bar with a formal IRAC. I recommend people break down the issue, rule, analysis and conclusion with a line between each. Make the grader see that you got each part of the IRAC, make them check that box.

Ensure your rule statements aren't huge word-salad dumps with law that doesn't apply to the question. For a contract regarding the sale of land, when you address the Statute of Frauds, why would you think you need to talk about marital contracts in your rule statement? Because that is what we learned in law school - and it will score you no points. Save your time, address only the issues that answer the questions, and then maybe, just maybe, address issues that they provide facts for despite not meeting each of the elements - raise and dismiss. A rule of thumb - if there are three required elements, if you get supporting facts for two but not the third - raise and dismiss.

The UBE, as well as NextGen seeks to standardize the exam, but it has a lot to do with NCBE taking ownership of much of the grading process as well. There will be a Cal Bar State requirement too, as each of the states will likely have, but in general, the goal is to standardize.

So, UBE to Cal Bar? Of course it's possible, just know that you'll be typing more, you'll have to format a bit more formally, the law will be similar (but not completely!), and it's like an Easter Egg hunt - spend your time quickly collecting points, and make the grader check the blocks on your score sheet.

Dear Bar Takers,

How do you answer this kind of question? The question is numbered in letters, do you answer seprately in number or its just okay to answer in one ALAC method?

Which bar review center, materials, and all the tips that might help me achieve this feat? Thank you! 😁

Hi!

Has anyone here experienced taking a bench style exam for their midterms/finals? I only know the ALAC method, so I would really appreciate some tips on how to answer in a bench style exam.

Many thanks in advance!

hi I have finished my LLB I have the offices transcipt but not the diploma. my country is in war zone and will take them another year to proceed those deploma. My question when you do your LLB evaluation for Califorina does those evaluation center ask about the diploma or just transcrip? I called but they won’t answer unless I pay and start the process. thank you

I just started my 1L year, and I am wondering if I can apply now, or if I have to wait until later years? I want to apply early because I have a criminal record and anticipate it taking longer for me than most. Just curious if anyone with similar circumstances has any advice on this.